Guiding and protecting housing for memory card connector

ABSTRACT

A housing (10) incorporating a memory card connector (40) positioned in the computer for use with a memory card (100), is independently mounted on the backpanel (12) of the computer case and installed in the exterior of the computer case. The housing (10) is aligned with the inside corresponding memory card connector (40) by means of two opposite supporting arms (18) of the housing (10) being generally in alignment with the grooves (47) in the corresponding rails (44) of the memory card connector (40), respectively. The housing (10) further comprises a cavity (14) defined by walls of the housing (10) for receiving the rear portion of the inserted memory card (100) therein, and an opening (29), which is generally positioned about the centerline of the housing (10), recessed through the front portions of the top and bottom walls (15, 16) of the housing (10) for facilitating manually grasping the rear portion of the corresponding memory card (100) during insertion or withdrawal of such memory card (100) with regard to the computer case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of The Invention

The invention relates to assemblies of memory card connectors,particularly to a guiding and protecting housing mounted on thebackpanel of the computer case for incorporating the inside memory cardconnector.

2. The Prior Art

Memory cards were popularly used in the computer industry in the recentyears. Generally, there are two ways to use such memory card with thecomputer set. The one is of a simple type which allows for directlymanually inserting or withdrawing the memory card into or out of theinside corresponding memory card connector. The other one is of alever-associated type which allows for withdrawing the inserted memorycard by pressing down an ejector bottom beside. The former can bereferred to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,955,817, 5,176,523, 5,234,351, 5,288,247,5,290,174, 5,297,966, 5,308,251 and 5,315,478, and the latter can bereferred to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,810,200, 4,843,221, 4,592,161, 5,011,420,5,026,296, 5,033,972, 5,051,101, 5,139,435, 5,145,389, 5,149,276,5,152,697, 5,161,989, 5,197,894, 5,286,214, 5,299,946 and 5,304,070.

Frankly speaking, the latter might be more convenient than the formerfor the user when the memory card is intended to be withdrawn out of thememory card connector due to the additional ejection mechanism. However,such ejection lever sometimes is not reliable enough and becomesout-of-order after multiple repeated use, so that the inserted memorycard may be stuck inside the corresponding connector. To prevent thissituation, the ejection type memory card connector, which is installedinside the backpanel of the computer case, has a less length in thelengthwise direction of the insertion of the memory card with regard tothe inserted memory card so that the rear portion of the memory cardwill protrude out of the backpanel of the computer case, as shown inFIG. 1, which allows directly manually grasping the rear portion of thememory card to withdraw the inserted memory card 100 out of thecorresponding connector in the computer case under such out-of-ordersituation. It can be seen that most former type, i.e., no ejectionmechanism type, memory card connectors also includes this feature forfacilitating their operation. A disadvantage which may be found in thissituation, is that such exposed rear portion of the inserted memory cardmay be incautiously hit by some unexpected matters, and thus thedeflection of the card and/or the transferred forces often cause somedamages of interconnection between the memory card and the correspondingmemory card connector.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an additionalhousing which can not only protect the protruding rear portion of thememory card from external hit, but also guide insertion of the memorycard into the rail of the inside memory card connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, a housing incorporating amemory card connector positioned in the computer case for use with amemory card, is independently mounted on the backpanel of the computercase and installed in the exterior of the computer case. The housing isaligned with the inside corresponding memory card connector by means oftwo opposite supporting arms in the housing being generally in alignmentwith the grooves in the corresponding rails of the memory cardconnector, respectively. The housing further comprises a cavity definedby walls of the housing for receiving the rear portion of the insertedmemory card therein, and an opening, which is generally positioned aboutthe centerline of the housing, recessed through the front portions ofthe top and bottom walls of the housing for facilitating manuallygrasping the rear portion of the corresponding memory card duringinsertion or withdrawal of such memory card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial back perspective view of a computer case of theprior art ejector-associated type memory card connector having memorycard installed therein to show the relationship between the backpanel ofthe computer case and the inserted memory card.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing mounted on the backpanel andincorporating the memory card connector in the present invention.

FIG. 2(A) is an enlarged perspective view of the housing of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2(B) is an enlarged perspective view of the grounding clip of FIG.2.

FIG. 2(C) is an enlarged perspective view of the memory card connectorof FIG. 2.

FIG. 3(A) is a cut-away perspective view of the right portion of thehousing of FIG. 2 to show the structural relationship among the housing,the grounding clip and the memory card connector.

FIG. 3(B) is a cut-away perspective view of the right portion of thehousing of FIG. 2 to show the structural relationship between thehousing and the grounding clip.

FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the housing and the backpanel toshow the inserted memory card is protected by the housing of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

References will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments ofthe invention. While the present invention has been described withreference to a specific embodiment, the description is illustrative ofthe invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention.Various modifications to the present invention can be made to thepreferred embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by appendedclaims.

It will be noted here that for a better understanding, like componentsare designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figuresin the embodiment. Attention is now directed to FIGS. 2 and 2(A) whereina guiding and protecting housing 10 is intended to be mounted to thebackpanel 12 of the computer case (not shown).

The housing 10 has generally a rectangular body 11 including a centralcavity 14 for reception of the rear portion of an inserted memory cardtherein. Such cavity 14 is generally formed by a top wall 15, a bottomwall 16, two side walls 17. A pair of supporting arms 18 respectivelyintegrally extend rearward out of a rear surface 20 of the body 11 ofthe housing 10 at two ends.

Each supporting arm 18 includes a groove 22 on its inner side extendingin a front-to-back direction and such groove 22 extends into the body 11in the same front-to-back direction but terminates before it reaches thefront surface 21 of the body 11 of the housing 10. Beside such groove22, also referring to FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), a retention wall 23 extendsfrom the front surface 21 of the body 11 of the housing 10, such that apocket 25 of the body 11 is formed adjacent the front end of such groove22 for receiving a front end 64 of a spring finger 62 of a ground clip60. A side wall 13 extends rearward at the rear end of the supportingarm 18 and a step 24 extends therefrom for engagement with acomplementary notch 42 on the underside of the end of the rail 44 of thecorresponding memory card connector 40, referring to FIG. 2(C). A pairof indents 19 are respectively positioned in the top and bottom portionsof each supporting arm 18 for retaining the grounding clip 60.

Adjacent to each supporting arm 18, a pair of engaging bars 26integrally oppositely extend from the top wall 15 and the bottom wall16, thereby defining a less height between than that in the othercentral portion of the cavity 14 and such less height is generally equalto the height of the groove 22 thereabout. A tiny short slit 28intermediating between each engaging bar 26 and the correspondingsupporting arm 18, extends inwardly from the rear surface 20 forreceiving a retention section 66 of the grounding clip 60.

The body 11 of the housing 10 further includes an upper and a lowerscrew holes 27 positioned in the centerline thereof so that such housing10 can be fastened to the backpanel 12 of the computer case by means ofscrews (not shown). It can be understood that in this embodiment theupper portion of the body 11 of the housing 10 does not perform thesubstantial function for protecting or guiding the inserted memory card,but may provide a reinforcement function for the whole structure of thehousing 10 and beautify the appearance thereof.

A semi-circular opening 29 is positioned in the front portion of thebody 11 of the housing 12 and extends therethrough in a verticaldirection wherein the center of such opening 29 is substantially in theaforementioned centerline of body 11 of the housing 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 2(B), the grounding clip 60 (only one shown inFIG. 2) which is fastened to the supporting arm 18, includes a generallyU-shaped base 61 formed by a pair of opposite plates 63 and a bight 65therebetween. A tang 67 which is sheared off from each plate 63, extendsinto the corresponding indent 19 in the supporting arm 18 so that suchgrounding clip 60 can be securely attached to the supporting arm 18wherein the bight 65 abuts against the inner surface 33 of thesupporting arm 18. An spring tab 69 outwardly and forwardly extends atthe front edge of the plate 63 so that the front end of the spring tab69 can substantially abut against the rear surface 20 of the body 11 ofthe housing 12, thus resulting in a grounding path therethrough to reachthe backpanel 12 to which the rear surface 20 of the body 11 of thehousing 10 is tightly attached.

The retention section 66 forwardly integrally extends from the bight 65of the grounding clip 60, and barbs 68 are positioned on two sidesthereof. Therefore, the retention section 66 is properly received withinthe slit 28 of in the body 11 of the housing 10 and the barbs 68 pierceinto the body 11 when the grounding clip 60 is assembled to the housing10 as shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B). The front end 64 of the springfinger 62 can be embedded within the pocket 25 in the body 11 of thehousing 10, and the whole finger 62 can be deflectably received withinthe groove 22 in the body 11 of the housing 10 when the memory card isinserted therein.

The memory card connector 40 as shown in FIGS. 2, 2 (C) and 3(A), isgenerally designedly mounted on a PC board through plural screws (notshown) extending through the corresponding screw holes 46 in the memorycard connector 40 and in the PC board. The memory card connector 40 withthe associated PC board can be assembled to the housing 10 in atop-loading manner. When assembled, the step 24 of the supporting arm 18of the housing 10 can be substantially received within the notch 42 ofthe rail 44 of the connector 40, and outer surface 48 of the rail 44 ofthe connector 40 generally abuts against the inner surface 31 of theside wall 13 of the housing 10 so that the connector 40 can be properlyconfined between such two supporting arm 18. It can be also understoodthat the inner surface 47 of the channel 49 of the rail 44 is generallyaligned with the bight 65 of the grounding clip 60 so that the twoopposite sides of the inserted memory card may properly guidably slidewithin the channel 49 of such rail 44 during insertion or withdrawalprocedure.

It can be seen that the backpanel has slot 8 dimensioned to be complywith the configuration of the cavity 14 and two opposite supporting arms18 so that such housing 10 is attached to the backpanel 12 with twoopposite supporting arms 18 respectively abutting against two sideportions 7 of the backpanel 12, thus defining the lateral dimension ofsuch slot 8. In fact, the whole structure related to the housing 10 andthe corresponding memory card connector 40, further includes a chassis(not shown) which can be integrally formed with or detachably fastenedto the backpanel 12. Such chassis comprises a pair of side bars,perpendicular to the backpanel 12, onto which two side portions of thePC board having the memory card connector thereon, is securely loadedfrom the top. Moreover, the edge of the PC board may be generallypositioned adjacent to the backpanel 12 of the computer case. Under thiscondition, a pair of notches should be positioned at the edge of the PCboard to allow the supporting arms 18 of the housing 10 to passtherethrough during top-loading of the PC board. In this embodiment, theengagement of the steps 24 of the supporting arms 18 of the housing 10and the notches 42 of the rail 44 of the memory card connector 40 onlyprovides functions of orientation and alignment between the memory cardconnector 40 and the housing 10, and these two components are notdirectly fastened together.

When the memory card connector 40 and its associated PC board areassembled to the chassis in position, the channel 49 of the rail 44 ofthe memory card connector 40 is dimensioned to be generally equal to andsubstantially aligned with the space between the corresponding pair ofengaging bars 26. Thus, referring to FIG. 4, the memory card 100 can beefficiently guidably inserted into the cavity 14 in the housing 10 fromthe outside. The side edge of the memory card 100 first substantiallyconfronts the retention wall 23 of the pocket 25 and successivelytouches the angular section 70 of the grounding clip 60, thus pushingand deflecting such angular section 70 outwardly into the groove 22. Bymeans of this contact, the electrostatics accumulated on the surface ofthe memory card can be removed therefrom, through the grounding pathdefined by spring finger 62, the retention section 66, the base 61 andthe spring tab 69 of the grounding clip 60 to the backpanel 12 and thecomputer case.

The continuing forward movement of the memory card 100 allows the sideedge of the memory card 100 successively slide along the retentionsection 66, the bight 65 of the grounding clip 60, and the inner surface47 of the rail 44 of the memory card connector 40 until the front matingsurface of the memory card 100 confronts the mating surface 41 of thememory card connector 40.

It should be understood that the height of the middle portion of thecavity 14 is substantially larger than the height of the side portionsof the cavity 14. This feature is adopted to fit different type memorycards, of which some have an expansion middle portion in comparison withothers.

It can be contemplated that in the present invention no ejector isinvolved, so the directly pushing and pulling the memory card assures areliable connection between the memory card and the corresponding memorycard connector. Additionally, the housing which covers the contour ofthe exposed rear portion of the inserted memory card provides theprotection function for preventing the rear portion of the memory card,which protrudes out of the backpanel of the computer case, from anyimproper or incautious external collision. By means of elongatedengaging bars, the spring finger and the bight of the grounding clip,the external housing also provides an effective entry guidance functionfor insertion of the memory card into the internal memory cardconnector, and that can prevent the memory card from being tilted ormisaligned with regard to the corresponding memory card connector duringinsertion.

Moreover, different from most previous memory card connectors, of whichthe grounding clip is directly mounted on the rail and electricallycoupled to the circuit traces on the PC board on which such memory cardconnector is seated, the grounding clip of this invention is fastened tothe housing 10 and directly grounded to the chassis through thebackpanel. In other words, the prior arts have their electrostaticgrounding clip function as a system grounding which requires somespecific grounding path and occupies space on the PC board and that maycomplicates the signal circuit design of such PC board, but the presentinvention adopts an additional housing on which such grounding clip canbe located and directly electrically coupled to the chassis through thebackpanel. Therefore, in the present invention the grounding path forelectrostatics is shorter and more effective, and eliminates the spaceof the grounding circuits on the PC board so as to allow for moreefficiently configuring circuits on such PC board design.

While the present invention has been described with reference to aspecific embodiment, the description is illustrative of the inventionand is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Variousmodifications to the present invention can be made to the preferredembodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the truespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Therefore, persons of ordinary skill in this field are to understandthat all such equivalent structures are to be included within the scopeof the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A guiding and protecting housing for use with amemory card connector in a computer set, said housing outwardly mountingon a backpanel of said computer, said comprising:an elongated bodyincluding a central cavity for reception of a rear portion of a memorycard adapted to be received in said memory card connector; a pair ofsupporting arms respectively extending outwardly from a rear surface ofthe body and rearward through the backpanel for engagement with thecorresponding memory card connector; and a pair of grounding clipspositioned on the supporting arms, respectively.
 2. The housing asdescribed in claim 1, wherein a pair of steps are formed on said pair ofsupporting arms for engagement with a pair of notches on bottom sides ofa pair of rails of the memory card connector, respectively, such thatthe memory card connector and its associated PC board on which saidmemory card connector is mounted, can be assembled to said housing witha toploading, and the rails of said memory card connector is alignedwith said supporting arms of the housing for guiding insertion of saidmemory card into said memory card connector.
 3. The housing as describedin claim 2, wherein each supporting arm of the housing further comprisesa side wall on an outermost portion for restraining the lateral movementof the corresponding engaged rail of the memory card connector.
 4. Thehousing as described in claim 1, wherein said grounding clip comprises abase for fastening to said corresponding supporting arm, a spring fingerextending forwardly for confrontation with the inserted memory card andremoving electrostatics of said memory card therefrom, and a spring tabextending from said base for mechanically and electrically engagementwith the backpanel of the computer set to form a grounding path.
 5. Thehousing as described in claim 4, wherein each supporting arm includesindents incorporating tangs projecting from the base of the groundingclip for retaining the grounding clip on the supporting arm, and agroove extending into the body for receiving the corresponding springfinger of the grounding clip therein when said spring finger isdeflected by the inserted memory card.
 6. The housing as described inclaim 1, wherein adjacent to each supporting arm, a pair of engagingbars integrally extending from a top wall and a bottom wall of the bodyof the housing, thereby defining a height which is generally equal to athickness of the inserted memory card.
 7. The housing as described inclaim 6, wherein a slit is positioned between each engaging bar and thecorresponding supporting arm for receiving a retention section of saidgrounding clip therein.
 8. The housing as described in claim 1, whereina semicircular opening is positioned in a front portion of said body sothat the rear portion of the memory card in the cavity can be accessiblygrasped manually from an exterior.
 9. A structure for use with a memorycard in a computer set, comprising:an external housing fastening to abackpanel of the computer set, said housing including an elongated body,a rear surface of which abuts against said backpanel; a cavity formed insaid body for receiving the memory card therein; a pair of supportingarms rearward extending from said rear surface of the body into aninterior of the computer set; an internal memory card connector mountedon a PC board in said computer set wherein a pair of rails of saidmemory card connector are respectively aligned with said pair ofsupporting arms of the housing for easy and precisely guiding insertionof the memory card therein.
 10. The structure as described in claim 9,wherein said housing further comprises a pair of grounding clipsrespectively positioned on said pair of supporting arms, a spring fingerof said grounding clip projecting into the cavity of the housing andadapted to deflectably confront the inserted memory card.
 11. Thestructure as described in claim 9, wherein each supporting arm furtherincludes a side wall and a step for supportably and restrainablyaligning the corresponding rail of the memory card connector therewithso that the inserted memory card can be precisely mated within saidmemory card connector.
 12. A mechanism in a computer set for guiding andprotecting a card-like member inserted within said computer set,comprising:a backpanel positioned on a rear side of said computer set,said backpanel including an elongated slot therein; an external housingpositioned on said backpanel, said housing including an elongated bodyhaving a cavity for reception of said card-like member therein, a pairof supporting arms integrally extending rearward from said body andthrough said slot of the backpanel wherein said cavity of the housing isgenerally aligned with said slot; and a pair of internal railspositioned inside the backpanel and generally supportably aligned withsaid pair of supporting arms, respectively, for receiving the insertedcard-like member therein and coupling said card-like member to aninternal connector.